This is the second of three annual issues of this report prepared by the FAO Global Information and Early Warning System (GIEWS) on the food supply situation and cereal import and food aid requirements for all countries in sub-Saharan Africa. The report is designed to provide the latest analysis and information on the food situation in these countries to governments, international organizations and other institutions engaged in relief operations.
Part I focuses on the continuing critical situation of large numbers of drought-affected and/or displaced persons, refugees, returnees and other vulnerable populations in various parts of sub-Saharan Africa facing severe food shortages. The report highlights worsening food emergency in the Horn of Africa where an increased number of people are in need of relief assistance. It particularly emphasises the bleak food supply situation in Kenya caused by drought and in Eritrea due to war-induced population displacement and drought. The report draws attention to the serious food and nutritional difficulties in the Democratic Republic of Congo and the continued food assistance requirements in other parts of the Great Lakes Region. It also points to the food supply difficulties in Sierra Leone and Liberia due to current or past civil unrest and in parts of southern Africa affected by floods and cyclones.
Part II contains an assessment of crop prospects and the food supply situation by sub-region, giving the latest estimates of cereal import and food aid requirements of all four sub-regions of sub-Saharan Africa.
Part III presents the latest analysis and information on crop prospects and the food supply situation and outlook in each country. The information on food aid pledges, including triangular transactions and local purchases, and on expected arrivals, is based on data transmitted to GIEWS as of mid-July 2000 by the following donors: Australia, Belgium, Canada, China, Denmark, EC, Germany, France, Italy, Japan, Netherlands, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom, United States as well as the World Food Programme. For other donors, data are based on field reports from various sources (see Tables 7 and 8).
